If a building's required fire protection system stops functioning for some reason, the Fire Department must be notified immediately and a fire watch may be required. Consult the Impairments for details on notification procedures.

To protect residents or tenants, a person or persons designated by the building's owner may be required to perform constant patrols of the premises to watch for fires until the fire protection system is back in order. The International Fire Code requires a list of specific measures be taken to ensure the fire watch is effective. Consult the printable Fire Watch Handout for details.